Seven individuals including six inmates and a prison officer at the Welikada Prison have tested positive for Covid-19 today, the Prison Department said.
Commissioner (Administration) and Spokesperson Chandana Ekanayake told media that four females remandees and two male convicted inmates were among the infected inmates.
“The inmates have been transferred to the Welikanda Hospital while the prison officer has been sent to the IDH,” he said.
“Accordingly, all the inmates and prison officers at the Welikada Prison and Female Ward have been subjected to PCR test,” he added.
When asked as to how they contracted the virus, Ekanayake said it was yet to be ascertained how they were infected with the virus. However, they were identified as Covid-19 patients with the random PCR tests conducted on inmates.
“A total of 3,300 random PCR tests have been so far carried out in the Welikada Prison,” Ekanayake added.
